Deadly shooting at South Nashville motel on Murfreesboro Pike prompts ongoing homicide investigation and search

What investigators say happened

A homicide investigation is underway after a man was fatally shot at a South Nashville motel on Murfreesboro Pike. Police responded early Friday morning to the property at 821 Murfreesboro Pike, near Interstate 24, where the victim was found with gunshot wounds.

The victim was identified as 27-year-old Twuan West. He was pronounced dead following the shooting. Investigators described the incident as stemming from an argument that unfolded at the motel and escalated into gunfire.

Timeline and immediate developments

Police said the call came in during the early morning hours. Officers secured portions of the motel property as detectives began processing the scene, including the parking area, while working to identify and locate those involved.

Investigators said West was allegedly involved in an argument described as prostitution-related with another man and a woman. Police said the man and woman left the property in an SUV after the shooting. Detectives indicated a witness told police the pair were believed to be local residents and had been seen before.

Key facts confirmed by police

• Location: a motel at 821 Murfreesboro Pike in South Nashville, near I-24.
• Victim: Twuan West, 27, who was shot and killed.
• Suspects: one man and one woman, last seen leaving in an SUV.
• Status: investigation remains active; no public announcement of arrests tied to this incident.

What remains unknown

Police have not publicly released a suspect description, the SUV description, or information about a possible weapon recovered in this case. Detectives also have not publicly detailed whether the individuals who fled were motel guests, visitors, or otherwise connected to the property, nor have they released information about surveillance video, forensic findings, or a specific motive beyond the circumstances described at the scene.

As in many homicide investigations, detectives typically work to establish the sequence of events through witness interviews, digital evidence such as video, and forensic processing before releasing additional details.

Broader context: recent motel shootings in Nashville

The South Nashville motel homicide comes amid other recent gun-violence investigations at area lodging properties, including a separate fatal shooting in late March at a motel on McGavock Pike where police later announced an arrest and continued to examine a potential self-defense claim. While the cases are unrelated based on available public information, the incidents underscore the recurring investigative challenges presented by transient locations where witnesses may be reluctant to speak and involved parties can quickly leave the scene.